CHAIRMAN:

Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D.
Lafayette, Indiana

MEMBERS:

Josie Beach
Richland, Washington

Bradley P. Clawson
Rexburg, Idaho

Michael H. Gibson
Franklin, Ohio

Mark A. Griffon
Salem, New Hampshire

James E. Lockey, M.D.
Cincinnati, Ohio

James M. Melius, M.D., Ph.D.
Albany, New York

Wanda |. Munn
Richland, Washington

John W. Poston, Sr., Ph.D.
College Station, Texas

Robert W. Presley
Seymour, Tennessee

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D.
Elysian, Minnesota

Phillip Schofield
Bosque Farm, New Mexico

STAFF:

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:

Theodore M. Katz, MPA
Atlanta, Georgia

COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT:

Zaida Burgos
Atlanta, Georgia

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH
4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
(513) 533-6825

September 23, 2008

The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Mr. Secretary:

The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (The Board) has
evaluated Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Petition 00124 concerning
workers at the Connecticut Aircraft Nuclear Engine Laboratory, Middletown,
CT, under the statutory requirements established by the Energy Employees
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) and
incorporated into 42 CFR Sec. 83.14. The Board respectfully recommends
Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) status be accorded to all employees of the
Department of Energy (DOE), its predecessor agencies, and DOE
contractors or subcontractors who worked at the Connecticut Aircraft Nuclear
Engine Laboratory in Middletown, CT. from January 1, 1958 through
December 31, 1965, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250
work days, occurring either solely under this employment or in combination
with work days within the parameters established for one or more other
classes of employees in the SEC.

The Board notes that although the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) found that they were unable to completely reconstruct
radiation doses for these employees, they believe that they are able to
reconstruct the occupational medical dose during the time period in question.

This recommendation is based on the following factors:

e The CANEL facility was involved in the development of a nuclear
reactor for propelling aircraft and on a number of other research and
development projects for DOE and its predecessor agencies

¢ NIOSH found very little internal personnel monitoring data and no
external personnel monitoring data for CANEL workers for the time
period in question.

e NIOSH was unable to locate sufficient information on radiological
operations or other workplace monitoring data in order to be able to
complete accurate individual dose reconstructions for internal or
external exposures at the CANEL facility during the time period in
question. The Board concurs with this conclusion.


The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt September 23, 2008

¢ NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for the workers exposed to
radiation at the CANEL facility during the time period in question. The Board concurs
with this determination.

In its evaluation report, NIOSH has concluded that it is likely that radiation doses for this group
of workers at Connecticut Aircraft Nuclear Engine Laboratory during this time period could have
endangered the health of the members of this class. The Board concurs. The Board also notes
that NIOSH is able to reconstruct doses from medical x-rays by means of existing project
technical documents.

Based on these considerations, and on the discussions and deliberations at our September 2,
2008 Board meeting, the Board recommends that this Special Exposure Cohort petition be
granted.

Enclosed is supporting documentation from the recent Advisory Board Meeting held in Redondo
Beach, Califomia, where this Special Exposure Cohort class was discussed. The
documentation includes transcripts of the deliberations, copies of the petition, and the NIOSH
review thereof, and related documents distributed by NIOSH. If any of these items are
unavailable at this time, they will follow shortly.

Sincerely,
Paul L. i a
Chair

Enclosure

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